Old House Reno- Code Requirements

In an old house my daughter is purchasing, an electrical contractor is doing work to address her request to replace all knob and tube wiring and to correct two wires landed on one breaker (panel had no remaining breaker spaces). This work resulted in the two questions below. Note, the jurisdiction where the work is being done follows the 2008 NEC.

Q1. When doing these renovations what triggers the NEC 210.12 AFCI Protection requirements to upgrade existing breakers to AFCI: is it replacement of the panel which was done to correct the double tap or installation of new circuits to replace the knob and tube wiring?

Q2. The kitchen, which is 7' wide x 10' long, has two counters facing each other on opposite walls of the 7' width. The back counter opposite the sink has a 2G box with a receptacle and kitchen light switch supplied by a 15A circuit that also feeds the dining room ceiling fan/light (all formerly knob and tube). The receptacle, which is located less than 6' from the sink on the opposite wall is not GFCI protected. Does this installation meet the code?

I welcome comments on the installation of the four existing receptacle outlets installed in the kitchen in a renovation prior to this sale, not all of which are code compliant:

1. a receptacle with a dedicated 20A feed for the refrigerator located in the wall behind the refrigerator,

2. a receptacle with a dedicated 15A feed for the dishwasher located under the dishwasher,

3. a GFCI receptacle fed by a 15A circuit in a 2G box located in the wall above the counter right of the sink that also feeds the garbage disposal and,

4. a GFCI receptacle fed by a 20A circuit in a 2G box located in the wall behind the free standing gas stove/oven that also feeds the built-in microwave above the stove and a ight in the ceiling.

If what you say is really what is being installed, "replace all knob and tube wiring " then the answer is quite simple. The installation must comply with the present day code, the 2008 NEC, enforced in your area. You do not have any non-conforming rights when the existing electrical installation is being replaced.

All the countertop receptacles in the kitchen will be required to be GFCI protected and supplied by a minimum of 2 20 Amp small appliance circuits that supply no other outlets. (as defined in 210.52.B)

Separate circuits to the refrigerator, microwave, oven/stove, and garbage disposal permitted. Refrigerator may be 15 amp. No lighting permitted on any of these circuits.

Remember this answer applies to 2008 NEC only. The 6 foot rule was long gone by then. The 2017 NEC has many additional GFCI requirements.

The AFCI requirement is triggered when circuits are modified or installed that supply areas that require AFCI protection. Panel replacement, new circuits added, or circuits extended.

As far as I can tell, Nevada currently enforces the 2011 version of the NEC, not the 2008. And probably very soon, it will go to the 2017 NEC. I would strongly urge you to consider using the most recently adopted code (whatever it may be).